Civilian efforts for autonomy reach far beyond Colombia. In this chapter, I explore four additional out-of-sample cases of civilian autonomy from around the globe. Although these additional cases from Colombia, the Philippines, Afghanistan, and Syria were not systematically selected for comparison, they exhibit geographical diversity, involve conflicts of diverse types and origins, and have ample documentation of civilian strategies and armed actor responses. They highlight unique aspects of civilian autonomy, including showcasing the diversity and prevalence of strategies and how they function in sectarian conflicts, Muslim-majority countries, and with the presence of international forces. They are also “tough” cases for autonomy given the intensities of the conflicts. Their displays of civilian autonomy contrast strikingly with conventional interpretations that emphasize the victimization of civilians in these conflicts.

The inclusion of these additional cases and countries shows that the main argument of this book is not culturally bounded. In fact, it shows that local civilian organization frequently supersedes cultural differences as an explanation for violence. Put differently, cohesion and organization explain differences in outcomes of violence within particular cultural groups. The cases also further showcase the diversity of innovation by civilians in war as well as the limits of their efforts when circumstances turn dire.

I first assess the civilian autonomy theory I developed in Colombia based on additional firsthand field research in Colombia on “tough,” out-of-sample community cases in the highly contested demilitarized zone of the Macarena region. I then also explore the protective autonomy strategies that communities have pursued in both Muslim and Christian areas of the Philippines. Using interviews with community advocates and archival research, I conduct a quantitative analysis of the strategies implemented by communities that declared themselves “Zones of Peace.”